Research Associate

UHI partnership; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

USS pension

PVG scheme check

Hybrid working

Leave entitlement: 42 days pro rata

Employee development

Job summary

UHI is seeking an internal temporary Research Associate to support the Executive Office during AY2026/27. The role is funded with seed-corn support and linked to grade 8 on the UHI payscale.

The post is part-time (133 hours across the employment period, 11.08 hours per week) with hybrid working arrangements and a starting salary of £51,632 to £54,778 per annum. It is subject to PVG screening, and USS pension benefits are available.

Qualifications

• Internal temporary Research Associate funded through Executive Office during AY2026/27.
• Role supported by a set budget with equivalence of approximately 19 days of activity at Grade 8.
• Starting salary for this position is £51,632 to £54,778 per annum.
• Part-time post, 133 hours across the period and 11.08 hours per week.
• Subject to PVG Scheme check; USS pension scheme available.
• Full-time posts carry 42 days leave per annum (pro rata for part-time).

Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain a sustainable CSG Education research culture post-2029 REF preparedness growth of external research partnerships.
• Support Education Doctorate (EdD) pathway and potential student funding routes.
• Identify income streams through bid writing and KE activity; engage with UHI research clusters.
• Plan for future research income generation and provide strategic leadership to consolidate and extend the work of the CSG Education Research Assistant.
• Coordinate with the Academic Titles Review Board and ensure long-term sustainability of research initiatives.

Job description

UHI is the United Kingdom’s leading integrated university encompassing both further and higher education. We are more than a college and more than a traditional university: a diverse, flexible partnership, rooted in our communities and driven by their needs. Our network of colleges, specialist teaching centres and internationally recognised research institutes delivers supported, flexible learning from access level to PhD.

To support our work we are recruiting to the following role:

Research Associate(Internal Applications)

Please note

Salary range

Duration

Duration September 2027

Working hours

Working hours 133 hours total

Location

Location Hybrid

Closing Date

Closing Date Friday 23 October 2026

Cognate Subject Group (CSG) Education

An internal temporary Research Associate is sought through Executive Office during AY2026/27. The post will be funded from a set budget with equivalence of approximately 19 days of activity at Grade 8. The appointment will provide strategic leadership and developmental capacity to consolidate and extend the work of the CSG Education Research Assistant, initiated during AY2025/26, and support the next phase of Education research development across the academic partnership.

The role will ensure the ongoing development of a sustainable CSG Education research culture, post 2029 REF preparedness, growth of external research partnerships, support with proposed Education Doctorate (EdD) pathway and potential student funding routes such as through SGSSS, staff scholarly development, including identifying income streams through bid writing and KE activity, engagement with UHI research clusters, including support with building portfolios and submitting applications to Academic Titles Review Board, and planning for future research income generation. The investment is intentionally small-scale and acts as seed-corn funding to secure longer-term income streams for sustainability and benefits both for CSG Education and UHI.

A detailed job description and person specification for the post are attached.

This role is linked to grade 8 on the UHI payscale.

The starting salary for this position will normally be in the range of £51,632 to £54,778 per annum.

This post is fixed term until end of Sept 27 subject to appointment period and funding. There is no guarantee of further employment after the expiry of this term.

This post is part time and will involve working 133 hours across the period of employment and 11.08hrs per week, on a working pattern as agreed with your line manager.

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme check, so please let us know if you are currently a PVG scheme member.

The workplace pension scheme we provide to workers at grade six and above is the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). This is a qualifying pension scheme, which means it meets or exceeds the government’s standards. Full information on the scheme can be found on the USS website .

Full-time posts carry a total of 42 days leave per annum (pro rata for part-time posts). It is practice that, with the exception of a Christmas and New Year closure, leave may be taken at any time of year, subject to the requirements of the post and department and with the permission of your line manager.

At UHI, we offer a supportive, flexible and rewarding place to work, with a range of benefits including:

• 42 days’ annual leave (pro rata)
• Attractive pension scheme and options for additional contributions
• Flexible working and family-friendly policies
• Occupational sick pay and an Employee Assistance Programme (incl. spousal support)
• High-street and online retail discounts
• 10% off Highlife Highland memberships
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Contribution towards DSE prescription glasses
• Free parking and EV charging (where available)
• LinkedIn Learning access for ongoing professional development
• Long-service awards and active social events